Madonna, the cross, the decline of the West

[JennaSmith987]

Jesus is dead.

[pogle1000]

Fr we need the Charismatic Renewal in our church and Prayer for revival

[LassedeV]

@KC101X omg. seriously?

[DaBroskiBro]

@hpolezig thank you

[HPoelzig]

Just as the Gods of Mt. Olympus had their heyday and then passed into obscurity, the Catholic church had its era of power and influence, eventually to be supplanted by more modern ideas such as science. Just becasue people are losing interest in Christianity doesn't mean culture is in decline. We are simply moving on. Catholic myths worked for people of the Middle Ages, but the supernatural fables of the Bible do not capture the imagination of modern people as it once did.

[Tekitachan]

i dont like priestes... they scary xD when they talk it feels like they wanna go into my brain and convince me god is here and he's gonna punish me if i dont belive him Oo.. wich is a aprt i dont get, if he wants us to belive why dont he just come visit ??

[evrithnguneed]

"self-preservation is an important motivating factor." wrong, it is the single most important drive for every living organism on the planet. might is right, your religious bullshit walks every time. the world is slowly waking up to the fact that institutionalized religion is a tool of manipulation and that the kingdom of heaven is within and not for sale.

[AMANOTAVANTA]

you are a devil,like your father you will burn in hell and you know it..there is a sweet little place prepared just for you and your buddyes,shuve your chross up your ass you faggot.

[andypdq]

2.37 Makes a change, for thousands of years, we have seen faeces presented as religion.

[BeautyNthabeatz]

i think you should listen to the song LIVE TO TELL. it's a very powerful Madonna ballad madonna did a few years ago and it's about pain and shame and overcoming that. it's a sad but hopeful song about overcoming a personal obstacle. if u think about it- it actually goes well with the story of christ and how he lived to tell about heaven and his father and The Truth when everyone thought he died on the cross permanently. He lived to tell through His resurrection.

[BeautyNthabeatz]

She has admitted in the psat she did thinks to just shock and at times she still someone that does things to get your attention but for the most part she has good intentions and she is telling a story that all can relate. I believe if anything madonna on the cross at her concert was her being "christ-like" not actually mocking god or jesus. i don't see how she was. If there was a play at a school and we were renacting the crucifixion well how is that different from what Madonna did?

[BeautyNthabeatz]

but when madonna was on the cross at this concert, she was singing a song called LIVE TO TELL and at the same time she had a screen behind her showing images of children of Afraica who are dying of Aids. she has actually been charitable and working hard to help kids and people of Malawai and she was emphasizing the pain of humanity . I believe at times she relats to the way jesus thought about the suffering of the world and how light conquers all.

[BeautyNthabeatz]

Father - i'm sure your intention in doing this is to try to bring people closer to God but at the same time your not being fair to Madonna. I wonder if u watched her whole concert which is THE CONFESSIONS TOUR ur talking about before you made this video. I don't think that you did because Madonna was not mocking God or Jesus in any way. If anything the Church has at times asked us to be Christ- Like. I understand why you might be pointing fingers at Madonna given her history to shock

[Gringoman911]

The quran was made by one author while the bible was made by dozens with differing ideas and concepts of faith, There is a higher chance for contradiction. I am no advocate of the quran or islam to me I view religion as a mainstream form of a levitical judaism that follows the harsh unmerciful laws.

[Gringoman911]

I think besides , Abysmal and boring sermons.

The thing that hurts Christianity is that in the many centuries its been around,It has not made a coherent belief system that someone could easily pick it apart if they are a thinking educated person.

[Gringoman911]

Maddonas is in some weird Jewish sect.

[CSV1]

There have been very powerful non-Christian civilzations in Europe as well. Christianity is not the answer which will "Save" Europe. A new wave of nationalism in combination with a unifying European element would do the trick though. A less corrupt & bureucratic version of the EU & a stop to third world immigration.

[Fattboy26]

Right on

[muertos06]

A strong atheistic nationalism? I know where we've seen that before.

[CSV1]

Ah, you mean the Soviet Union? Well, fuck Bolshevism and fuck the Jews who killed ethnic Russians in the Leninst and Stalinist USSR. A return to Pagan European religions as a source of spiritual guidance in life could and would, effectively replace Christianity.

[muertos06]

Haha, there are definitely more examples than the Soviet Union. And speaking of paganism, wasn't there a guy in the 1930's and 40's who started a strong nationalistic movement that got in touch with Ancient Germanic Paganism and became increasingly anti-Christian? Lol we've seen this before. And we've seen them collapse.

[CSV1]

You are perhaps mistaking Himmler for Hitler?

The Greeks, the Romans, the Gauls, the Vikings and many more, all managed fine without an authoritarian monotheistic religion. Christianity has given Europe very little and will continue to give even less.

Germany lost a war and did not collapse as a civilization. Most of NS Germany's policies were carried out successfully and the nation had been rejuvenated. The war could just as easily been won by the Axis. But circumstances favored the Allies.

[audionautix]

Art just has to say something. Sometimes art is saying "nothing makes sense to me" or "There is no God!" You might not agree with the message, but it's still art.

[benchwarmerbenji]

I listened very closely to everything you said in this video Father. I think you are a very wise man who picks your words very carefully each time. God bless you!

[PaulinianKibitzer]

Father Jeffrey, thank you, that was truly and eye-opener, truth-filled and very inspiring!

[christopherKBL]

What garbarge! Religion has always had to much power.

[saladarmy]

Father Jeffrey - I love your videos, but truly...as an artist myself, the one thing I know for sure is that artists cannot be limited by public opinion. You are not an artist, but a priest. I am a Christian artist, and can assure you that sometimes so called "neagtive" imagery can produce a very spiritual message. The arts must always be secular.

[waylifetruth]

Europe has lost Their Base and Islam is quickly positioning itself to become the new base. Europe will not make it out of this one unscathed. I am Utterly Thankful to be an American and not European. Hopefully in a hundred years The US wont look like Europe but All of Western culture is in Decline unless we ACT

[nikolaasdigi]

Did anyone ever told you that.. you suck? No? Well, you do. Definetely. Bye, bye, baby!

[scarletwrists]

Madonna says that she portrayed this symbol through her song as a message about the kids in Africa, to intensify this. It is your intreprentation of it that misleads you into anger. Have an open mind. You are seeing only what you want to see. Oh and about God, read Elie Wiesel and Neale Donald Walsh books. I'd like to hear you about that. Lastly, get a life.

[baiandong]

girl, you need to get a life....

[PKR77644]

you are a terrorist.

[dannywerac]

if notre dame became a mosque, that really wouldnt decline religious attendance, since islam is a religion, but ok.

[saintwithasword]

There is much decline in western culture due to consumerism, racism, apathy, etc. But Madonna's performance doesnt denote decline. Her performance was a creative, powerful way to bring attention to apathy. It reminds us that we NEED a savior, a savior that will love and care "for the least of these", and she did it in the loudest way she knows how. She's not making fun of Christianity. She used it as it should be used: as a conduit of radical love.

[scarletwrists]

That is exactly what her reps said and exactly what those who saw her FULL performance that night understood.

[donpatovillanueva]

bla bla bla

[donpatovillanueva]

The truth is that Madonna will go to heaven for helping children in Africa and you fahter will go to hell for just complaining about.

[KunLan]

Really? Madonna is a liar, a thief, a blasphamer, a murderer and adulterer at heart. Father Jeffery is just the same, but he is redeemed through Christ.

Good works does not earn one salvation, but repentence through the Lord. For Madonna to go to Heaven, it would happen because a loving God forgave her because she seeked repentence through Christ for her sins. Please, go use some common sense.

[scarletwrists]

Yes!!!!! I love reading something that makes sense and is rational, non hypocritical.

[havock89]

I agree. Well said KunLan. Our actions by themselves are not going to bring about the Kingdom of God.

[scarletwrists]

Exactly. Her actions in that way speak louder than a misintrepreted by some artistic decision.

[donpatovillanueva]

I tell you this father, catholic church is the real antichrist. You think you have the power tu judge, to forgive sins, to decide what is good and bad. you are so proud of your holy church of virgins, you wear that uniform thinking it makes you a saint. No one on this planet is a saint, not even the pope. Do you think God is happy about your church? you should stop your boring as hell speech and have some good sex...oh sorry I forgot, sex is a sin.

[havock89]

Roman Catholics do not believe sex is a sin. They beleive it is a holy and and powerful ability that allows us to create life. You are misinformed, and your beliefs about my religion are erroneous. The church you mention is actually the people of the 'ecclesia'. God will be happy with some and unhappy with others. Being Christian is not a free ride to salvation, and no Roman Catholic beleives that.

[JTownSmith]

Im catholic, and no one is free of sin, only jesus is.

[AnderConstruction]

Hi, Im a German, I would rather call it a development than a decline to read the sunday newspaper instead a 2000 year old book. (also because we have read this tale already, and we decided there are better tales, with less violence and black/white painting). Your advertising for relegion is much closer to the methods of Islamists than the Notre Dame will ever be.

You use the same what Bush and all might ever did. Produce fear and blame the scapegoat you need.

[havock89]

I would call it decline rather than development. I am not an old person (being in my early 30s), but I see everyone making the same mistakes every other generation makes. They think they are the first to come up with this radical idea. they are deluding themselves.

[chrisj247]

Hi Father."Is there any reasoning to be made for war&specifically killing another human as happens in Iraq War?"Prayer&faith in God is an obvious powerful solution. I'm just wondering where ur ministry stands on war&military?The physical defending of a nation is what has been renewed through the New Covenant in Jesus Christ,2prayer&love,isn't it?I'm not attacking you in anyway with hypocrisy etc but would just like2know ur beliefs on it

[IrrigatedPancake]

In WWI, while the Germans and English were stuck in trenches, shouting distance away from each other, fearfully waiting for the command to charge across "dead man's land." However, between attack orders the men on both sides would regularly declare cease fires, come out of the trenches, and meet with their "enemies" to find some relief from the ever impending doom.

[IrrigatedPancake]

Upon discovering this, a few generals decided to start placing troops in more dynamic, unpredictable circumstances so that solders would have to make more "kill or be killed" decisions.

I don't believe that God would have forced the men to fight another when all of the solders had no desire to do so (except for the generals).

[chrisj247]

Interesting, thanks

[ripster100]

hello father im glad i found your videos here on youtube i believe in all that you said. I especially liked the analogy you made on st. sophia. i hope one day Catholics and Eastern Orthodox can come together again..God Bless..IX8YS

[girlcrushing]

Organised religion stirs up enough controversy all on it's own. In fact, it's the main cause of conflict, due to the dogmatic mindset of there being a distinct difference between 'them' & 'us'. Light v's dark. Good v's bad.

Truth is, there is no difference at all. There is no difference between Madonna on a cross & Jesus on a cross.

The only true differences are those fuelled by mankind out of fear - hence the desire for organised religion.

[havock89]

What utter rubbish. Please separate the excuses people use to create evil and wickedness, and the philosophical teachings of religion. Mankind will use and pervert anything that has physical, or influential power. Thats like blaming a pair of scissors because someone used it to mug and stab someone, instead of cutting lengths of cloth to make clothes.

[kiridd]

I'm very happy that you're so concerned with Madonna's stunts and the "declining" state of western civilisation.

Obviously this is far more important than third world poverty and suffering.

Madonna and the arts is obviously far more important than rape, incest, child abuse, domestic violence and youth suicide!!

God bless you

[sasquatch442]

Thank you so much for the nice words you are wise sir. But it makes me very sad to see how much hate and anger comes forth in some of the comments posted here. We must truly hold on to our principles of love to one another even when they show us such an ugly side of themselves. God bless you father Jeffrey, and god bless all the people who wrote these things and don't understand what it means to be a christian.

[ahwhfx]

I love how tremayne3 says "Weak, poor souls that can't think for themselves" without realizing that this priest is doing just that- telling you what to think, because if you don't, you go to hell.What a bunch of bullshit.

[tremayne3]

Father you're a brave man. We praise you and thank you for your comment. Madonna is clearly a sick, wicked person, an instrument of satan who's using her to twist the minds of our young and not so young people. The comments left here are a perfect example of this.

Weak, poor souls that can't think for themselves. Sick people that really need help.

You are so good Father. Thank you again.

[romano100br]

madonna is right. father and you ar wrong. Catolic church is demonism and cross is diabolic.

[findjustin]

no one wants to hear your fat mouth talk

[Donimo]

You are truly an idiot. You don't understand anything about modern society. You don't understand human behaviour or psyche. It's a shame people follow your kind blindly without challenging the ridiculous statements you make. Shame on you and your followers for bringing down Western society, not Madonna.

[FatherJeffrey]

I am planning a series of at least 7 videos on clerical child abuse. I have spoken to many victims and their families. Please pray for them and take a moment to view my Mark Foley video. God Bless

[findjustin]

shut the HELL up now

[ChipMorton]

Don't worry Father. All of these scumbags talking trash about our Church are probably empty drug addicts zombies with sad wasted lives. They all can go to hell with madonna!

Keep up the good work Father! God Bless You.

[mehmetcomblog]

Oh Father

You can't hurt me now

I got away from you, I never thought I would

You can't make me cry, you once had the power

I never felt so good about myself

I pray for the forgiveness of all the seperation and chaos your and all organized religion brings to the world.

[RedKingSouness]

I think the last few reviews should rewatch, most comments were personally abusive and ill thought out, shameful.

[miarebarose]

Is this guy trying to bring back the Inquisition?

He seems to think that the arts have no right to question and comment on religion.

No wonder Islam is now a bigger religion than Christianity if this is the kind of representative they have to offer.

What a sad old man.

[tonygem]

The Christian religion has been oppressive to people for centuries. That's one of the reasons why it is attacked and made fun of. Christians should understand this simple truth and not be surprised by the backlash.

[LestatMadness1985]

I'm sorry but If you can't understand what Madonna is trying to get across to people I suggest u look at yourself. Madonna is the most famous woman in the world, so it is understandable that she is trying to send a message out to us all. She is not moking God, Jesus or the church. Just trying to make people aware of the state of our world and mankind today. She is bold. People can take it in whatever way they want, instead of moaning about her (which you all like) Learn from her!

[novalis]

this is crap.

[nano411]

I can't believe you wasted 20 minutes of your pathetic life to talk about Madonna on the cross.Get a life and help mankind instead of bitching about it.

[iceboy219]

Isn't it sad when a religion like mine is dying? Father Jeffrey if you're reading this, why don't you make Catholicism interesting again instead of complaining about the 6% attendance? It doesn't take a bible to see what is good and what is bad but it does take a bright mind to overcome your pessimism and threats as an attempt to save an irrelevant religion. i hope you pray for forgiveness for all the negativities you have caused.

[mariomartins]

Mankind is under attack and this is another great example of the "mastermind" that hides behind this attack. He has many names, Allah, Negeos.... lot's of names, this thing is SATAN the Enemy of our Souls! Yes this "Thing" exist!

[mariomartins]

Father with all the respect: Was it Madonna singing? Was this "thing" Human? the lyric "A man can tell a thousand lies, I've learned my lesson well, Hope I live to tell..." from the Cross pretending it was Jesus?...

[nyc78]

LOL

[NickKh]

I totally agree, and I hope Madonna realizes that she's fighting against God, not against christians. Fighting and hurting God, for she used symbols to hurt His Son Jesus, will cost her A LOT!

[madmysticwarrior]

This is deep. Notre Dame as a mosque? mmmm I am not French but I think I would get to Church right away.